Inexpensive power upgrades
 

hey everyone, this is my first post, first thread here. this is quite an awesome site you guys have here. well, im going to get down to business.

i wanted to know some inexpensive power boosters for my protege. it is a 2002 DX, bottom of the barrel. 2.0L . i dont even know the stock power and torque (which would be nice). a friend of my dad's works at a mazda dealership, and i wanted to get the turbo that goes on the protege speed put on. my goal is 200whp...i know the turbo wont get me that alone, so im going to go for intake and exhaust to flow better. does anyone know if any other inexpensive ways for power building? like the prices of turbos and how much tq they give and what not.

thanks in advance!

and another thing, if i get a turbo and its putting out the power, turbo lag is going to be a problem. this would be a daily driver, so i guess supercharger would be better?

First off, welcome to the club.
Second, make good friends with the search button, there is a wealth of info here.

2.0L stock HP 130, torque 135, and that ain't at the wheels!
Forget about the MSP turbo, but watch the supercharger sticky closely.
Intake and exhaust are good places to start, but they won't give you much.
If you are serious about 200whp, you better start saving your pennies now, LOL!

why would i need to forget about the MSP turbo? is it not worth the power gains?

http://www.turbo-kits.com/protege_turbo_kits.html

i found this turbo, the 2nd one. i read a lot on the MSP turbo, and heard it was basically crap. is there a pully you can get that would increase hp?

im terribly sorry about my lack of knowledge...

the MSP turbo ISN'T crap....it's the ECU and fuel mapping thats crap. The MSP turbo is a garret T-25 and very nice one at that. The intercooler is horrible, the ecu tuning is horrible and the exhaust is horrible.

Aftermarket turbo kits are readily available and make MUCH more power than a MSP set-up. Expect to spend about $3700+installation for a decent turbo kit. Try www.wagnermotorsports.net and www.hiboost.com for more turbo info.

I'm making a supercharger for the 2.0L proteges and should be finished within a week or so. I'll be pushing 200+whp on pump gas. If you want to know more about my supercharger visit my sticky thread in the 3rd Gen Engine section "Womp Racing Supercharger"

So you say the MSP exhaust is crap??? Is it? I was gonna get one for my car. Should I go with the Racing Beat instead??

i noticed your supercharger kit! its quite a nice kit! like i said, i could get the MSP turbo from the dealer, and knowing the guy there, i could get it for about 1500USD...or less, i dont know, im asking him today. if i rework the ECU and fuel mapping (i dont know how...ignorance at its best i soppose) would it be atleast 1/2 way decent?

Hmmm, I thought the Mazdaspeed turbo was unavailable as a separate purchase...
anyway, for $1500.00 I wouldn't think it'd be a complete kit...

confounded...

yeah NO mazdaspeed turbo pieces are available from the dealer without an authentic MSP vin number. Not even xhaust manifolds..I looked into it.

When I say the MSP exhaust is crap I mean the S-pipe out of the turbo and downpipe. the "catback section" is just fine.

The title of this thread is "inexpensive power upgrades". In no way, shape or form is 200 whp going to come cheap in a Protege. Plan on spending in the neighborhood of three grand for FI alone.

or....$2500ish....(wink wink).

yea, i know i ment inexpensive so turbos would be out for now. so far i have about 220$ saved up for parts... i just dont want to be the guy with the fart can muffler and the bookshelf wing.

a good header like the obx 4-1 is right in that $220 price range,. For a little more coin you cuold score a Wagner shorty header and keep your stock emissions. Also an Ebay intake will do wonders for living up your ride. If all I had was $220 to spend I'd either:

#1. Buy the OBX 4-1 header

#2. Buy, Kartboy shifter bushings, exhaust hangers, Ebay CAI, Monsterflow filter

#3. FAL slimfan (and remove the two dinky stock fans) and the Ebay CAI.

any of those wouldn't steer you wrong!

matty, where's a good place to order the fan? a good idea.